From: skutvik@online.no
Date: Sun Dec 14 2003 - 13:37:44 GMT
Steve and All.
On 11 Dec. you wrote:
> Bo said:
> > I did not know what message to hijack, but I must point to the MOQ
> > being a METAPHYSICS: the greatest ordering of reality there is and
> > no religion - or sect - and does not deliver "how/what to do"
> > answers, thanks God :-).
> Steve:
> I'm not so sure. A philosophy has to be about living well to be
> worth a darn.
MOQ's starting point that there is nothing BUT morals does
somehow diminishing its normal role (you know: ... humans the
only moral being ..etc.) and I must admit that there have been
times that I thought it a dangerous idea. But its explanatory power
has swept me along and I wonder if not explanation (cause or
reason) are all we crave?
*************
A smallish aside re your message of Sat.13 that ended thus:
> Intellectuals miss the point when they think of a religion as a set
> of beliefs to be affirmed or denied. Like Pirsig's statement on
> metaphysics, a list of religious beliefs would be like the
> "restaurant where they hand you a 30,000 page menu and no food."
As I get such a kick from the Metaphysics of Quality I guess I
qualify as an 'intellectual' (meaning focus in Q-intellect not in
Q-society), but as the former builds on the latter, the emotional
"kick" is just as great. Pirsig makes it sound as if constructing
metaphysics is a vice that philosophers constantly indulge in, this I
believe was a safeguard in case no-one understood his MOQ, he
knew well what enormity he was launching. No, the MOQ is no
mere menu but 'haute cuisine'.
***************
> I mean, yeah, it doesn't give answers about what do do when asked in
> many contexts and especially not in the context-less "meaning of
> life" sort of way that I think is behind this thread. In lots of
> decisions, thinking about the MOQ would be silly, but I don't know
> of any religion that does any better.
IMO, the only question the MOQ answers is the "meaning of life"
one (in the "existential" sense) while it is too grand to cope with
lesser details such as life and death.
> Asking "what would Jesus do?" when trying to decide how to
> arrange your living room furniture comes to mind. In other words, I
> question whether religions tell us "how/what to do" too.
The Christian Bible is full of what to do - and not to do - advice,
the Commandments for instance, and so is the Jewish and Muslim
counterparts. If they are of much use however? I mean must we
have God tell us what is good?
> I do think that the MOQ can help sort things out for us and help
> make decisions. This "greatest ordering of reality" gives as much
> guidance on "how/what to do" as many religions (with the added bonus
> that unlike most religions it's not just a bunch of crap...just
> kidding...sort of...) but like Christianity it also will not help
> you arrange your living room furniture.
Agree!
See you.
Bo
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